Self-drilling blind riveting tool

ABSTRACT

A power tool for installing self-drilling mandrel-rivet assemblies comprises a rotary rivet-abutting nosepiece, a relatively retractable mandrel-pulling means rotatable with the nosepiece, and mechanism whereby the nosepiece and mandrelpulling means are rotated to enable a rivet assembly to drill a hole in a workpiece for receiving the rivet and thereafter relatively retract the mandrel-pulling means to set the rivet in the hole.

United States Patent 1191 Humphreys et al.

1451 Sept. 23, 1975 [54] SELF-DRILLING BLIND RIVETING TOOL 3,412,594 11/1968 Lund 72/391 I 3,616,673 11/1971 Miklos 72/391 [75] Invenmrs- Humphreys walsall, Dame 3,626,745 12/1971 Richardson etal 72 391 5mm; Edward Webb, both of 3,630,427 12/1971 Stokes 72/391 x Sutt n C l fi all of England 3,659,449 5/1972 Abernathy 72 391 [73] Assignee: USM Corporation, Boston, Mass.

Primary Examiner-Victor A. DiPalma [22] Flled: 1974 Attorney,-Agent, or FirmCarl E. Johnson; Vincent [21] Appl. No.: 522,887 A. White; Richard B. Megley [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Dec. 8, 1973 United Kingdom 56986/73 A Power tool for installing Self-drilling mandrel-rivet assemblies comprises a rotary rivet-abutting nose- [52] Us. 01. 72/391; 72/453; 227/59 Piece, a relatively retractable mandrel-Pulling means [51 Int. cl. B21D 9/05; B2lD 31/00 rotatable with the nosepiece, and mechanism whereby [58] Field 6: Search 72/391, 453, 114; 227/52, the nosepiece and mandrel-pulling means are rotated 227/53 54 55 53 59 to enable a rivet assembly to drill a hole in a workpiece for receiving the rivet and thereafter relatively [5 References Cited retract the mandrel-pulling means to set the rivet in UNITED STATES PATENTS the hole- 2,402,303 6/194 Stone 72/114 13 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of6 3,906,776

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of 6 3,906 776 ww Nw %w QQ mN US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of6 3,906,776

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet4 of6 3,906,776

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 6 of6 3,906,776

QJIT

SELF-DRILLING BLIND RIVETING :TOOL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with improvements in tools suitable for use with self-drilling pull-type blindriveting assemblies. I

Generally pull-type blind-riveting assemblies are inserted into holes which have previously been drilled using a conventional drilling tool and are then set by using one of a variety of available setting tools. Examples of the latter are disclosed in U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,095,106 and 3,082,898 for instance. It has been recognized that in some circumstances it would be advantageous if blind-riveting could be carried out using selfdrilling assemblies. The expression self-drilling pulltype blind-riveting assembly is used herein to denote a pull-type blind-riveting assembly which is provided with a drill-point so that it can be used to drill a hole in a workpiece. A pull-type blind-riveting assembly may be provided with a drill-point by using, for example, one of the procedures described in the complete specification of our British Copending patent application Ser. Nos. 42272/71 and 42273/71. Other examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,453,927 and 3,750,518. Proposals to use self-drilling assemblies have not, however, so far as we are aware, led to introduction of such a blind-riveting procedure on a commercial scale. Such a procedure requires the assembly to be rotated sufficiently rapidly for a hole to be drilled in a workpiece, which is usually of metal, and, when the hole has been drilled and the tubular portion of the rivet of the assembly has been inserted into the hole, themandrel stem to be pulled to set the rivet. It is preferable that both the drilling and pulling operations be carried out using only one too]. There have been proposals (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,616,673; 3,630,427 and 3,659,449 for instance) for such a tool, but again, so far as we are aware, such a tool has not become commercially available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one of the various objects of the present invention to provide an improved tool suitable for use in blind riveting using a self-drilling pull-type 'blindriveting assembly. 1

There are hereinafter described in detail to illustrate the invention in its tool aspects by way of example three blind-riveting tools adapted for use in setting the rivets of self-drilling pull-type blind-riveting assemblies, each of these illustrative tools comprising mandrelpulling means mounted both for rotation about an axis of a mandrel of a blind-riveting assembly engaged thereby and for reciprocation along such axis, the mandrel-pulling means being provided with jaws having grooves of V-shaped cross-section for engagement with mandrel stems having portions of corresponding square cross-section.

Each of the illustrative blind-riveting tools aforementioned has a housing portion and a sleeve (also referred to hereinafter as a quill) rotatably mounted in the housing portion and projecting forwardly therefrom to provide abutment means, in the form of a nosepiece, at a front end of the tool. The mandrel-pulling means of each of the illustrative tools comprises a jaw case mounted in said sleeve for rotation therewith and axial reciprocation relative thereto. In a first one of the illustrative tools to be described, the mandrel-pulling means has two sets of jaws, one with the grooves of V- shaped cross-section to engage the stem portion of square cross-section, and the other set of conventional construction to grip and pull a cylindrical portion of the mandrel stem. In the second and third illustrative tools, there is one set of jaws to engage the mandrel stem both for rotation and for pulling, and they preferably have grooves of V-shaped cross-section.

Means for rotating the mandrel-pulling means of each of the illustrative tools comprises a rotary air motor having a hollow spindle through which a drawbar extends, and means for pulling the mandrel stem includes a piston secured to the drawbar and arranged to be acted uponby hydraulic fluid under pressure in the operation of the tool. The drawbar at its front end is operatively associated with the jaw case of the mandrel-pulling means in such a way that the jaw case can rotate freely out of' contact with the drawbar for the drilling operation.

In the operation of each of the illustrative tools, a blind-riveting assembly can be inserted through the nosepiece of the tool and engaged by jaws of the mandrel-pulling means, the drill point of the mandrel presented to a workpiece, the jaw case and assembly, including said sleeve, rotated by power to drill a hole through the workpiece; thereafter the head of the rivet is pressed against the workpiece bythe nosepiece of the tool which restrains it from bodily movement relative thereto, and then the jaw case is retracted by power to pull the mandrel and set the rivet.

The illustrative tools enable self-drilling pull-type blind-riveting assemblies to be used in procedures where both drilling and mandrel-pulling operations have to be carried out, the assemblies having to be loaded into only one tool for presentation to the work and broken off portions of the mandrel stems being released and safely ejected'rearwardly after the rivetsetting operation.

The invention provides, in one of its several aspects, a blind-riveting tool adapted for use in setting the rivets of self-drilling pull-type blind-riveting assemblies, comprising a housing portion, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housing portion and projecting forwardly therefrom to provide abutment means to engage the head of the rivet and restrain bodily movement thereof relative to a workpiece during rivet setting, and mandrelpulling means mounted in said sleeve for rotation therewith and for axial reciprocation relative thereto, the mandrel-pulling means being so constructed and arranged that the mandrel can be engaged to cause rotation of the assembly for the drilling operation and subsequently gripped and pulled to set the rivet.

The invention also provides, in another of its several aspects, a blind-riveting tool adapted for use in setting the rivet of a self-drilling pull-type blind-riveting assembly, comprising a first set of jaws arranged to close upon a portion of the mandrel stem and confine it for rotation for the drilling operation, and a second set of jaws arranged to grip and pull the mandrel stem for the rivet-setting operation.

The above and other of the various objects and several aspects of the invention will become more clear from the following detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of the three illustrative tools aforementioned and their operation. It is to be understood that the illustrative tools have been selected for description by way of example and not of limitation of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the first illustrative tool, in its rest condition;

FIG. la is an enlarged sectional-view of a control valve shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, in section, of a forward portion of the first illustrative tool;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are side elevational views, in section, of the forward portion of the first illustrative tool showing successive stages in the operation thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a collet of the first illustrative tool showing jaws thereof;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the second illustrative tool;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the third illustrative tool;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a blind-riveting assembly used in the tools;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 4 showing the use of the assembly with the first illustrative tool; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line Xl-Xl in FIG. 10.

The first illustrative tool, shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, comprises a housing, a main portion 10 of which houses a rotary air motor 12. A hydraulic cylinder 14 extends rearwardly of the housing portion 10 and a cylindrical hollow housing portion 16 extends forwardly thereof. A cylindrical housing portion 18 depends from the housing portion 10 and has a pneumatic cylinder 20 mounted at its lower end.

A driving quill 22 (FIG. 2), which is cylindrical and hollow, extends through the housing portion 16 and is mounted for rotation therein on two bearing rings 24 (FIG. 2). A rearward portion of the quill 22 is mounted for rotation between thrust bearings 28 within the housing portion 10. A forward portion of the quill 22 extends beyond the housing portion 16 and carries a nosepiece 29 at its end. The nosepiece 29 has a passage extending centrally therethrough into the interior of the quill 22; this passage has a cylindrical portion having a surface 30, a frusto-conical portion having a surface 31, a second cylindrical portion having a surface 32, and a second frusto-conical portion having a surface 33 which forms the rearward portion of the passage. The frusto-conical surfaces 31 and 33 taper forwardly.

The portion of the quill 2 which extends beyond the housing portion 16 has a sleeve 35 slidably mounted on its external surface. The sleeve 35 is retained between a retaining circlip 36 (FIG. 3), against which a spring 40 bears urging the sleeve 35 forwardly of the tool, and a retaining clip 38. An internal annular groove 42 of the sleeve 35 is arranged to accommodate two diametrically opposed ball catches 44 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) which are mounted in frusto-conical holes in the wall of the quill 22. The ball catches 44 are so arranged that, although they can extend into the interior of the quill 22, they cannot pass right through the wall of the quill 22. The groove 42 provides space for the ball catches 44 to move outwardly so that they no longer extend into the interior of the quill 22. A sloping surface 46 of the groove 42 urges the ball catches 44 inwardly, when they are in the groove 42, under the action of the spring 40.

Mandrel-pulling means of the illustrative tool includes a sleeve 48 which is contained within the driving quill 22 and is free to slide on the interior surface thereof. The sleeve 48 has an internal flange 49 at its rearward end (FIG. 3) to which a collet 50 is rigidly secured. The collet 50 extends centrally longitudinally of the quill 22 and at its forward end portion is split to form two jaws 52 (FIG. 6). The jaws 52 are movable towards or away from one another by deformation of the collet 50. The jaws 52 have stem-engaging surfaces 53 which preferably are so shaped that, when the jaws 52 are pressed together, the surfaces 53 define a passage of substantially square transverse cross-section; the plane by which the jaws 52 are separated lies on one of the diagonals of the square. The jaws 52, unless pressed together, are separated by the natural resilience of the collet 50 and the passage between the jaws 52 is in alignment with the passage through the nosepiece 29. The jaws 52 also have a forward surface 54 which, when they are pressed together, is frusto-conical and complementary to the surface 33 of the nosepiece 29.

A rearward portion of the collet 50 extends beyond the flangs 49 and has an external surface 56 which tapers forwardly (FIG. 4). A rearward surface 58 of the collet 50 is frusto-conical, tapering rearwardly, and a cylindrical passage 59 passes through the collet 50 and is in alignment with the passage between the jaws 52.

The external surface of the sleeve 48 has therein two diametrically-opposed grooves 60 (FIG. 2) and driving pins 62 set into the wall of the quill 22 extend into the grooves 60. The grooves 60 are located in a plane normal to that in which the ball catches 44 are located and the pins 62 allow the sleeve 48 to slide longitudinally within the quill 22 but link the sleeve 48 and the quill together for rotation.

A hollow cylindrical jaw case 64 which, in addition to the sleeve 48 and collet 50 also forms part of the mandrel-pulling means of the illustrative tool, is free to slide longitudinally within the quill 22 to the rearward of the sleeve 48; the jaw case is thus mounted for axial reciprocation relative to the quill, but will rotate therewith under the influence of friction in the operation of the tool. The wall of the jaw case 64 has an internal surface 66 which tapers forwardly. The rearward end portion of the collet 50 extends into the jaw case 64 and in the rest condition of the illustrative tool the surfaces 56 and 66 lie opposite to, and separated from, one another so that relative axial movement between the jaw case 64 and the collet 50 brings the surfaces 56 and 66 into engagement. At a rearward end portion thereof, the jaw case 64 (FIG. 2) has an internal shoulder against which a washer 68 rests. A spring 70 is contained within the jaw case 64, bears against the washer 68, and urges a pusher member 72 (FIG. 3) forwardly within the jaw case 64. The pusher member 72 has a cylindrical passage 73 passing therethrough, and a rearward portion which extends through the coil of the spring 70 and the hole in the washer 68; a forward portion of the member 72 bears on two serrated jaws 74 contained within the jaw case 64. The jaws 74 are free to slide along the surface 66 but, when the tool is in its rest condition (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), the jaws 74 are held apart by engagement of their forward surfaces 75 with the surface 58 of the collet 50 against which the jaws 74 are pressed by the pusher member 72. The jaw case 64 also has an internal annular shoulder 76 (FIG. 2), located to the rearward of that against which the washer 68 bears, and an annular projection 77 which projects rearwardly of the jaw case 64. The projection 77 has the same external diameter as the remainder of the jaw case 64 but has a greater internal diameter. The purposes of the shoulder 76 and the projection 77 will appear from the desciption hereinafter of the operation of. the first illustrative tool.

The rearward end portion of the driving quill 22 is rigidly secured to a hollow spindle 80 of the air motor 12 by pins 78 (FIG. 2). The spindle 80 is mounted for rotation in bearings 82 and has vanes 84 projecting therefrom by which, when air under pressure is supplied to the air motor 12, the spindle 80 is rotated. Air under pressure is supplied to the air motor 12 through a bore 86 (FIG. 1) in the housing portion 18. The bore 86 allows air to pass from a control valve 88 to the air motor 12. The valve 88 is mounted in the housing portion 18 and is operated by means of a plunger 90 to allow air to pass from a bore 94 to the bore 86. The bore 94 allows air to pass from the upper end portion of the pneumatic cylinder to the valve 88.

The first illustrative tool is supplied with air under pressure through a bore 96 which enters a valve 98 (FIGS. 1 and 1a) mounted in the housing portion 18. The valve 98 is operated by means of a plunger 100 which has a return spring 102 and has three connections in addition to the bore 96. One connection of the valve 98 is directly into the upper end portion of the pneumatic cylinder 20, another is to a bore 104 which enters the cylinder 20 at the lower end portion thereof, and another is to an exhaust bore 106.

A trigger 108 is pivotally mounted on a pin 110 set into the housing portion 18 and, when the trigger 108 is pivoted in one direction (clockwise in FIG. 1), the plunger 90 is pressed to operate the valve 88, but, when the trigger 108 is pivoted in the opposite direction, an intermediate lever l 12 presses the plunger 100 to operate the valve 98. The effect of pressing the plunger 90 is to allow air to pass from the bore 94 to the bore 86; the further the plunger 90 is pressed the more air passes to the bore 86 and thence to the air motor 12 until a maximum is achieved. This arrangement allows the speed of the air motor 12 to be varied. The plunger 90 has a return spring (not shown) associated therewith.

The valve 98 allows air to pass from the bore 96 into the upper end portion of the cylinder 20 and connects the bore 104 to the exhaust bore 106. However, when the plunger 100 is depressed by trigger activation, the bore 96 is connected to the bore 104 so that air under pressure can pass into the lower end portion of the cylinder 20, and the upper endportion of the cylinder 20 is connected to the exhaust bore 106.

The pneumatic cylinder 20 has a piston 114 (FIG. 1) which has a piston rod 116 which extends upwardly into a hydraulic cylinder 118 provided by a bore in the housing portion 18. The rod 116 makes sealing engagement with the walls of the cylinder 118. A bore 120 leads from the upper end portion of the cylinder 118 to the forward end portion of the hydraulic cylinder 14. The hydraulic cylinder 14 can be filled with hydraulic fluid by removing a screw plug 125. A piston 122 is slidable in the cylinder 14. The arrangement is such that, when hydraulic fluid is forced into the cylinder 14 through the bore 120, the piston 122 is moved rearwardly against a spring 124 contained within the cylinder 14. The rearward movement of the piston 122 is limited by an annular shoulder 123.

A cylindrical hollow drawbar 126 extends through the center of the piston 122 and is rigidly secured thereto. A rearward end portion of the drawbar 126 extends axially through the coil of the spring 124 and is slidably received in a tube 128 which leads from the interior of the cylinder 14 to the exterior of the tool. The drawbar 126 passes through a sealing ring 130 located froward of the cylinder 14 which prevents hydraulic fluid from entering the air motor 12, and then through a hollow cylindrical passage through the center of the spindle 80. A forward end portion of the drawbar 126 lies within the driving quill 22 and is internally screwthreaded.

A screw 132 (FIG. 2) having a smooth shank portion on which a ball race 134 is slidably mounted, is screwed into the forward end portion of the drawbar 126 (FIG. 2). The ball race 134 has an inner ring which is slidable on the screw 132, and an outer ring which is slidable on the internal surface of the driving quill 22. The outer ring of the ball race 134 is the same radial thickness as the projection 77 of the jaw case 64 and can abut it. The inner ring of the ball race 134 can abut the forward surface of the drawbar 126. The screw 132 has a head within the jaw case 64 and provides an annular surface 136 which lies opposite the shoulder 76 but in the rest condition of the tool, and when the quill 22 is rotated in the operation of the tool, does not make contact therewith. Thus, the drawbar at its front end is operationally associated with the jaw case in such a way that the jaw case can rotate freelybut of contact with the drawbar.

The operation of the first illustrative tool will now be described, starting with the tool in its rest condition as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In the rest condition, the spring 124 is pressing the piston 122, and therefore the drawbar 126, forwardly. The drawbar 126 presses the ball race 134 forwardly and by means of the projection 77 the jaw case 64 is pressed forwardly. The jaw case 64 in turn presses the sleeve 48 forwardly but forward motion is prevented by engagement of the sleeve 48 with the ball catches 44. The only contact between the drawbar 126 and the driving quill 22 is across the ball race 134 and neither the screw 132 nor the drawbar 126 is in contact with the jawcase 64. The ball catches 44 hold the sleeve 48 sufficiently far from the nosepiece 29 that the jaws 52 of the collet 50 do not contact the surface 33 and are therefore free from any force tending to press them together. The serrated jaws 74 are held apart by being pressed. against the surface 5 by the pusher member 72. r 7

With the first illustrative tool in its rest condition, an operator conveniently takes a self-drilling pull-type blind-riveting assembly as shown in FIG. 9 and inserts its mandrel stern into the passage extending through the nosepiece 29. Such an assembly comprises a rivet R which has a flange L and a mandrel which has a head H and a stem S. The head H has a drill-point D formed thereon. The stem S is cylindrical over much of its length but a portion thereof which extends rearwardly from the flange L desirably has four longitudinallyextending flattened regions F on the surface thereof. The flattened regions F are formed by pinching the stem S so that its original cylindrical surface becomes substantially square in transverse cross-section (FIG. 11).

When the flange L of the rivet R of the assembly, abuts the nosepiece 29 in the first illustrative tool, the

stem S extends through the collet 50 to between the serrated jaws 74. After inserting the stern S, the operator of the first illustrative tool cocks the tool by pulling the sleeve 35 rearwardly on the driving quill 22 against the spring 40. The rearward movement of the sleeve 35 brings the groove 42 opposite the ball catches 44 which are pressed into the groove 42 by the sleeve 48 which then becomes free for forward movement. Upon release of the ball catches 44, the sleeve 48 slides forwardly, due to the action of the spring 124, and the surface 54 of the jaws 52 of the collet 50 engages the frusto-conical surface 33 of the passage through the nosepiece 29. The jaws 52 slip on the surface 33 and are pressed together until they enter into the portion of the passage through the nosepiece 29 which has the surface 32 and abut the frusto-conical surface 31 whereupon forward movement is arrested. The jaws 52 are then held together by the surface 32 with the surface of the square passage formed by the surfaces 53 enclosing and in close proximity to the portion of the stem S which has the flattened regions F. The minimum transverse dimension of the passage formed by the surface 53 is less than the maximum transverse dimension of the portion of the stem S which has the flattened regions F so that, upon rotation of the collet 50, the surfaces 53 engage the flattened regions F and the assembly is rotated about its longitudinal axis. The first illustrative tool has now reached its ready-for-drilling condition.

The operator next moves the first illustrative tool until the drill-point D abuts a workpiece W and then pivots the trigger 108 to operate the valve 88. In the rest and ready-for-drilling conditions of the tool, air under pressure enters through the bore 96, passes into the cylinder 20 above the piston 114 and thence into the bore 94 which is closed by the valve 88. Operation of the valve 88 allows the air to pass into the air motor 12 through the bore 88 so that the spindle 80 is caused to rotate. Upon rotation of the spindle 80, the drillpoint D is rotated to drill a hole through the workpiece W.

Rotation of the spindle 80, although the driving quill 22, the jaw case 64 and the sleeve 48 all rotate, does not cause rotation of the drawbar 126, as its only contact with parts which rotate is across the ball race 134 which accommodates the rotation. The rotation of the collet jaws 52 causes rotation of the stem S and therefore of the drill-point D.

When a hole has been drilled through the workpiece W and the flange L of the rivet R abute the workpiece W, the operator releases the trigger 108 so that the valve 88 shuts off the air supply to the air motor 12 whereupon the rotation is halted by friction. The operator then oppositely pivots the trigger 108 so that the valve 98 is operated; this causes the piston 114 to move upwardly in the cylinder 20, air above the piston 114 entering the exhaust bore 106. The rod 116 moves into the cylinder 1 18 and forces hydraulic fluid through the bore 120 into the cylinder 14. The piston 122 and the drawbar 126 are moved rearwardly in the cylinder 14 by pressure of the hydraulic fluid, against the spring 124.

The rearward movement of the drawbar 126 causes the surface 136 of the screw 132 to come into contact with the shoulder 76 of the jaw case 64 and causes the jaw case 64 to retract. The jaw case 64 slides within the driving quill 22 and a gap (see FIG. opens between the sleeve 48 and the jaw case 64; as this occurs, the jaws 74 of the jaw case 64 are forced together by the surface 66 and the pusher member 72. The jaws 74 grip the stem S and pull it rearwardly as the jaw case 64 moves so that the rivet R is set. As the rivet is set, the collet 50 may move rearwardly with the stem S; but whether or not it moves during setting, after breakage of the mandrel, the surface 66 of the jaw case 64 and the surface 56 of the collet 50 come into engagement and the sleeve 48 moves rearwardly.

As the sleeve 48 moves rearwardly, the jaws 52 lose contact with the surfaces 31, 32 and 33 of the passage through the nosepiece 29 and spring away from the stem S. Continued rearward movement of the sleeve 48 releases the ball catches 44 which are pushed inwardly by the surface 46 of the sleeve 35 so that they extend once more into the interior of the driving quill 22. The release of the ball catches 44 allows the sleeve 35 to slide forwardly on the quill 22 until it contacts the clip 38.

When the rivet R has been set, the mandrel stem S breaks (see FIG. 5) and the rearward movement continues until the piston 122 contacts the shoulder 123. The operator then releases the trigger 108 so that the piston 122 is moved forwardly by the spring 124. As the piston 122 moves forwardly, the tool returns to its rest condition and the broken-off stem S is released by the jaws 74. The broken-off stem Sis in a continuous passage through the tool which passes through thenosepiece 29, the collet 50, the jaw case 64, the screw 132, the drawbar 126 and terminates in the tube 128 and can be removed from the tool either by tilting the tool or by providing a rearward flow of air through the continuous passage to carry it away.

The second illustrative tool (FIG. 7) is identical to the first illustrative tool except at its forward end portion and the identical portion will not therefore be described. The reference numerals of identical or nearly identical parts in the first illustrative tool are given in brackets after the reference numerals of parts of the second illustrative tool.

The second illustrative tool comprises a housing portion 200 (16) in which a driving quill 202 (22) is mounted for rotation on two bearing rings 204 (24). At the forward end portion thereof, the driving quill 202 carries a nosepiece 206 which has a cylindrical passage 108 passing centrally therethrough. A spring-loaded latch 210 with a front end face inclined to the axis of the passage 208 is mounted in a radial bore in the nosepiece 210 so that it will extend into the passage 210 to prevent broken-off mandrel stems being ejected forwardly out of the passage 208 but offers little resistance to mandrel stems passing rearwardly into the tool through the passage 208.

A cylindrical jaw case 212 is contained within the driving quill 202 and is free to slide longitudinally therein. A pin 214 is set into the jaw case 212 and extends into a longitudinal slot in the quill 202 so that the quill 202 and jaw case 212 will rotate together. At a forward portion thereof, the jaw case 212 has a cylindrical internal surface 216 which leads at the forward end thereof to a forwardly tapering frusto-conical internal surface 218 of the jaw case 212. At a rearward portion thereof, the jaw case 212 has an internal shoulder against which a washer 220 bears. A spring 222 bears on the washer 220 and acts to urge a collet 224 forwardly in the jaw case 212.

A rearward portion of the collet 224 has splines on its external surface which extend into slots in the jaw case 212 so that the collet 224 can slide longitudinally in the jaw case 212 but will rotate therewith. A forward portion of the collet 224 is split to form two jaws with V-shaped grooves in them and which are similar to the jaws 52 of the first illustrative tool.

At the rearward end portion thereof, the jaw case 212 has an internal shoulder 228 (76) and a screw 230 (132) which is connected to a drawbar of the tool (not shown) which is arranged to pull the jaw case 212 rearwardly in the same manner as in the first illustrative tool. A tube 232 passes through the hole in the washer 220 and the coil of the spring 222; this tube 232 prevents broken-off mandrel stems from fouling the spring 222.

In the operation of the second illustrative tool to set a self-drilling pull-type blind-riveting assembly, the operator inserts the mandrel stem S of the assembly into the passage 208. The latch 210 allows the stem S to enter between the jaws of the collet 224 so that the flattened regions F of the stem S are between the jaws, displacing as it does so any broken mandrel stem therefrom. If the jaws of the collet 224 require to be moved apart to allow entry of the stem S, then the stem S engages the collet 224 and pushes it rearwardly against the spring 222 until the jaws of the collet 224 have moved rearwardly a sufficient distance for them to move apart sufficiently for the stem S to enter therebetween.

When he has inserted the stem S between the jaws of the collet 224 (the tool being then in the condition shown in H6. 7), the operator of the tool presses the trigger of the second illustrative tool corresponding to trigger 108 of the first illustrative tool and a rotary air motor causes the driving quill 202 to rotate. If the portion of the stem S which has the flattened regions F is not oriented correctly relative to the stem-engaging surfaces of the jaws of the collet 224, they come into the correct orientation upon commencement of drilling and the collet 224 moves forwardly under the influence of the spring 222 and its jaws are pressed together by the surface 218. The portion of the stem S which has the flattened regions F is now enclosed in a passage formed by the stem-engaging surfaces of the jaws of which the minimum transverse dimension is less than the maximum transverse dimension of said portion of the stern S. As in the first illustrative tool, the stemengaging surfaces rotate the assembly with the jaws being held together by the surface 216 so that the drillpoint D thereof can be used in a drilling operation.

Upon completion of the drilling operation, the operator presses the trigger of the second illustrative tool to operate the hydraulic cylinder thereof so that the jaw case 222 is pulled rearwardly within the quill 202. As

the jaw case 222 moves rearwardly, the surface 218 presses the jaws of the collet 224 further together so 'that they grip the stem S and pull it to set the rivet R the jaw case 212 returns forward under the influence of the spring contained in the hydraulic cylinder; as this occurs the broken stem S strikes the latch 210 arresting the movement of the collet 224 while the jaw case 212 continues to move so that the grip on the stem S is released. Upon insertion of a subsequent stem S into the tool, the broken stem, if not already ejected, is removed rearwardly through the tube 232. It will be seen from the above description that the spring 222 is less strong than the spring of the hydraulic cylinder of the tool and is not so strong that the collet 224 cannot easily be pushed back against it. An advantageous feature of the second illustrative tool is that the stem S does not require to be so long as it does for the first illustrative tool.

The third illustrative tool FIG. 8 is also identical to the first illustrative tool except at its forward end portion and in the form of the piston 122 contained in the cylinder 14 which does not allow forward movement of the drawbar 126 when the tool is in its rest condition. The identical portion will not therefore be described. The reference numerals of identical or nearly identical parts in the first illustrative tool are given in brackets after the reference numerals of parts of the third illustrative tool.

The third illustrative tool comprises a housing portion 300 (16) in which a driving quill 302 (22) is mounted for rotation on two bearing rings 304 (24). At the forward end portion thereof, the driving quill 302 carries a nosepiece 306 which has a cylindrical passage 308 passing centrally therethrough and on its external surface a sleeve 310 (35) is mouunted for sliding movement. The sleeve 310 operates two ball catches 312 (44) in identical fashion to sleeve 35 of the first illustrative tool. An annular plate 314 is free to slide within the driving quill 302 and supports centrally thereof a jawseparating member 316.

The jaw-separating member 316 serves a similar function to the rearward portion of the collet 50 of the first illustrative tool and therefore has a surface 318 (56) which lies opposite to, and, in the rest condition of the tool, separated from, a surface 320 (66) of a jaw case 322 contained within the quill 302, so that relative axial movement between the jaw case 322 and the member 316 brings the surfaces 318 and 320 into engagement. A rearward surface 324 (58) of the member 316 is frusto-conical and a cylindrical passage 326 passes centrally therethrough.

Two jaws 328 are slidable within the jaw case 322 but have grooves therein into which driving pins 330 extend so that the jaws 328 rotate with the jaw case 322. The jaws 328 are urged forwardly in the jaw case 322 by a pusher member 332 acted upon by a spring 334, these parts being similar to parts 72 and of the first illustrative tool. The jaw case 322 is free to slide in the driving quill 302 but is pinned for rotation therewith by driving pins (not shown) which extend into grooves in the jaw case 322. The jaw case 322 is interconnected with the drawbar of the third illustrative tool in identical fashion to the jaw case 64 of the first illustrative tool by means which include a screw 336 (132).

In the operation of the third illustrative tool an operator takes a self-drilling pull-type blind-riveting assembly similar to the illustrative assembly and inserts its mandrel stem S into the passage 308. When he does this, the tool is in the condition shown in FIG. 8 with the plate 314 being urged forwardly by the spring 334 but being prevented from moving to its foremost position by the ball catches 312. In this condition of the tool, the jaws 328 are held apart by engagement of their forward surfaces with the surface 324 of the member 316.

When the rivet R of the assembly has contacted the nosepiece 306, the operator pulls the sleeve 310 rearwardly on the quill 302 to release the ball catches 312 in similar manner to the ball catches 44 of the first illustrative tool. Upon release of the catches 312, the plate 314 and the member 316 slide forwardly under the action of the spring 334 allowing the jaws 328 to move forwardly within the jaw case 322. As the jaws 328 move forwardly, they come together due to the surface 320 of the jaw case 322 and engage the flattened regions F of the stem S enclosing the portion of the stem S which has the flattened regions F in a passage, formed by V-shaped grooves which provide stem-engaging surfaces of the jaws 328, of which the minimum transverse dimension is less than the maximum transverse dimension of said portion of the stern S. If the stem S is not correctly oriented for the jaws 328 to engage the regions F, the stem S comes to the correct orientation as soon as a drilling operation commences. The tool is now in a ready-for-drilling condition and the operator presses the trigger corresponding to the trigger 108 of the first illustrative tool and the rotary air motor causes the quill 302 to rotate; whereupon the assembly is rotated by the jaws 328 and the drill point D thereof can be used in a drilling operation.

Upon completion of the drilling operation, the operator presses the trigger to operate a hydraulic cylinder of the third illustrative tool so that the jaw case 322 is pulled rearwardly within the quill 302 in identical fashion to the jaw case 64 of the first illustrative tool. As the jaw case 322 moves rearwardly, the plate 314 is initially left behind and the jaws 328 grip the stem S more firmly and pull it rearwardly. After some movement of the jaw case 322, the surfaces 318 and 320 come into engagement and the plate 314 moves rearwardly with the jaw case 328. As the rearward movement continues the rivet R of the assembly is set, the stern S breaks, and the ball catches 312 are reset in identical fashion to the ball catches 44 of the first illustrative tool.

When the hydraulic cylinder has completed its stroke, the operator releases the trigger and the spring contained in the hydraulic cylinder returns the tool to the condition shown in FIG. 8. The surface 324 moves the jaws 328 apart and the grip on the broken-off mandrel stem is released. The broken-off stem can be removed rearwardly by being pushed out by the next stem inserted or by the provision of a rearward flow of air through the tool.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure as Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A blind-riveting tool for setting the rivets of selfdrilling pull-type blind-riveting assemblies having a mandrel stem in a workpiece, comprising a housing portion, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housing portion and projecting forwardly therefrom to provide abutment means to engage the head of the rivet and restrain bodily movement thereof relative to the workpiece during rivet setting, and mandrel-pulling means mounted in said sleeve for rotation therewith and for axial reciprocation relative thereto, the mandrelpulling means being engageable with the mandrel stem to cause rotation of the assembly for the drilling operation and thereafter operable to grip and pull the mandrel to set the rivet, and the tool comprising power means whereby, in the operation of the tool, said sleeve and mandrel-pulling means are rotated to enable the assembly to drill a hole in the workpiece and means whereby the mandrel-pulling means is thereupon retractable relative to said sleeve to set the rivet.

2. A tool according to claim 1 in which said sleeve is coupled to a hollow spindle of a rotary motor accommodated in the housing portion of the tool and the mandrel-pulling means is operatively associated with a drawbar which passes rearwardly through said spindle and constitutes part of the means for retracting the mandrel-pulling means.

3. A tool according to claim 2 in which the operative association of the mandrel-pulling means with said drawbar permits rotation of the mandrel-pulling means without rotation of the drawbar.

4. A tool according to claim 3 in which the drawbar passes through an inner ring of a ball race, the outer ring of which is slidably accommodated in said sleeve, and the mandrel-pulling means comprises a sleeve portion which has an internal shoulder accommodated between the ball race and an external lip of the drawbar.

5. A tool according to claim 4' in which said sleeve portion of the mandrel-pulling means forms part of a jaw case with, at its forward end, an internal tapering surface against which mandrel-gripping jaws of the tool, urged forward by spring means, are slidably accommodated.

6. A tool according to claim 1 comprising a switch for controlling said power means and actuatable in either of two directions, the arrangement being such that movement of the switch in one direction is effective to energize an air motor for rotatably driving said sleeve and mandrel-pulling means, and movement of the switch in the other direction is effective to relatively retract the mandrel-pulling means for rivet setting.

7. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said mandrelpulling means comprises a jaw case having an internal tapering surface at its forward end, a pair of mandrelgripping jaws slidable in the case, and spring means in the case for yieldably urging the jaws toward said surface, said jaws being intergral with a collet keyed to the jaw case and resiliently urged apart radially of said sleeve.

.8. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the mandrelpulling means comprises a jaw case having an internal tapering surface, and a pair of separate cooperative jaw members complemental to said surface spring-urged against said surface, the jaw members being restrained against relative rotation in the case.

9. A tool as in claim 8 comprising a jaw stop releasablyheld in retracted position, when the jaw case is in its foremost position in the tool, to hold the jaws separated for admission therebetween of a mandrel-rivet to be installed, release of the stop allowing the jaws to move forwardly to confine a portion of the stem of said mandrel-rivet.

10. A tool as in claim 9 wherein the jaw stop comprises an annular plate held in its retracted position by ball catches accommodated in holes in said sleeve and releasable therefrom by an internally grooved member axially movably mounted on the sleeve.

11. A tool as in claim 8 wherein the mandrel-pulling means comprises means rotatable with the jaw case to about said stem, by a member embracing the closed jaws. 7

13. A tool as in claim 11 wherein the means for retracting the mandrel-pulling means is a piston coupled to a drawbar and slidable in a cylinder in response to hydraulic pressure. 

1. A blind-riveting tool for setting the rivets of self-drilling pull-type blind-riveting assemblies having a mandrel stem in a workpiece, comprising a housing portion, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housing portion and projecting forwardly therefrom to provide abutment means to engage the head of the rivet and restrain bodily movement thereof relative to the workpiece during rivet setting, and mandrel-pulling means mounted in said sleeve for rotation therewith and for axial reciprocation relative thereto, the mandrel-pulling means being engageable with the mandrel stem to cause rotation of the assembly for the drilling operation and thereafter operable to grip and pull the mandrel to set the rivet, and the tool comprising power means whereby, in the operation of the tool, said sleeve and mandrel-pulling means are rotated to enable the assembly to drill a hole in the workpiece and means whereby the mandrel-pulling means is thereupon retractable relative to said sleeve to set the rivet.
 2. A tool according to claim 1 in which said sleeve is coupled to a hollow spindle of a rotary motor accommodated in the housing portion of the tool and the mandrel-pulling means is operatively associated with a drawbar which passes rearwardly through said spindle and constitutes part of the means for retracting the mandrel-pulling means.
 3. A tool according to claim 2 in which the operative association of the mandrel-pulling means with said drawbar permits rotation of the mandrel-pulling means without rotation of the drawbar.
 4. A tool according to claim 3 in which the drawbar passes through an inner ring of a ball race, the outer ring of which is slidably accommodated in said sleeve, and the mandrel-pulling means comprises a sleeve portion which has an internal shoulder accommodated between the ball race and an external lip of the drawbar.
 5. A tool according to claim 4 in which said sleeve portion of the mandrel-pulling means forms part of a jaw case with, at its forward end, an internal tapering surface against which mandrel-gripping jaws of the tool, urged forward by spring means, are slidably accommodated.
 6. A tool according to claim 1 comprising a switch for controlling said power means and actuatable in either of two directions, the arrangement being such that movement of the switch in one direction is effective to energize an air motor for rotatably driving said sleeve and mandrel-pulling means, and movement of the switch in the other direction is effective to relatively retract the mandrel-pulling means for rivet setting.
 7. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said mandrel-pulling means comprises a jaw case having an internal tapering surface at its forward end, a pair of mandrel-gripping jaws slidable in the case, and spring means in the case for yieldably urging the jaws toward said surface, said jaws being intergral with a collet keyed to the jaw case and resiliently urged apart radially of said sleeve.
 8. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the mandrel-pulling means comprises a jaw case having an internal tapering surface, and a pair of separate cooperative jaw members complemental to said surface spring-urged against said surface, the jaw members being restrained against relative rotation in the case.
 9. A tool as in claim 8 comprising a jaw stop releasably held in retracted position, when the jaw case is in its foremost position in the tool, to hold the jaws separated for admission therebetween of a mandrel-rivet to be installed, release of the stop allowing the jaws to move forwardly to confine a portion of the stem of said mandrel-rivet.
 10. A tool as in claim 9 wherein the jaw stop comprises an annular plate held in its retracted position by ball catches accommodated in holes in said sleeve and releasable therefrom by an internally grooved member axially movably mounted on the sleeve.
 11. A tool as in claim 8 wherein the mandrel-pulling means comprises means rotatable with the jaw case to confine a non-cylindrical portion of the mandrel stem for driving during the drilling operation.
 12. A tool as in claim 11 wherein the means to confine a non-cylindrical portion of the mandrel stem comprises a second set of jaws forming part of a collet, the second set of jaws being urged apart by resilience of the collet but restrained from separation, when closed about said stem, by a member embracing the closed jaws.
 13. A tool as in claim 11 wherein the means for retracting the mandrel-pulling means is a piston coupled to a drawbar and slidable in a cylinder in response to hydraulic pressure. 